Bauhaus were a strange band but typified well how, in the wake of punk, ideas got mixed and matched to produce something entirely new. For example, take elements of Bowie in his 'Thin White Duke' period, throw in a dash of Dave Vanian, run the mixture through a mangle and the result.... Pete Murphy.
I love Bauhaus and I have 95% of their stuff, however even so they were a band who could be rightly considered to take themselves a bit too seriously! Lyrically, they were capable of producing what could be described as pretentious twaddle!
'In the marbled reception hall I received a three band gold ring, from Mark. A token of esteem. Running through ghost closet locker rooms, to hide from Peter, who has fallen to the old cold stone floor, wheezing and emitting a seemingly endless flow of ectoplasmic white goo from ears and mouth. A wind rushes through the hall, whistles as it breezes through the narrow slits in the green locker doors. I hide in one of these, number thirteen'.
'Of Lillies and Remains' Bauhaus 1981
See what I mean!
On the other hand, Bauhaus were not without humour. The darkly dramatic 'A Spy In The Cab' when broken down is about a subject as mundane as a vehicle tachograph! Furthermore, when talking to a friend recently, who many moons ago had been in a band who supported Magazine and Bauhaus, he described the Northampton boys as being extremely gracious, even to the extent of tuning their guitars for them.
So here you have a soundboard recording from an early set from Berlin.
Bauhaus were certainly unique and would have adequately served the punk/new wave cause even if their recording career started and stopped with 'Bela Lugosi's Dead'.
'Undead! Undead!'
'Bela Lugosi's Dead'
Bauhaus
Riverside 1982
hello, congrats for this website, full of great info gigs and so.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if it would be possible to restore this link. thank you. lele.
Please!!!!! Restore this Link
ReplyDelete